kodittomien

Kodittomien is the Finnish term used to describe people who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The phrase appears in social policy, research, and journalism to refer to individuals or families who are homeless at a given time or over a period. In practical terms, the homeless may sleep in shelters, transitional housing, or places not intended for habitation, and they may rely on friends or relatives for short periods.

Causes of homelessness are typically multifaceted, combining structural factors and personal circumstances. In many contexts, shortages of affordable housing, rising rents, unemployment or precarious work, and poverty interact with health problems, mental illness, substance use, family breakdown, or experience of violence. Discrimination and insufficient access to social services can prevent people from securing stable housing.

Homelessness is associated with adverse health and social outcomes, including higher rates of infectious disease, chronic conditions, injury, and mortality. Barriers to healthcare, education, and employment, as well as social isolation, can perpetuate cycles of homelessness.

Responses emphasize both immediate and long-term solutions. Emergency shelters and temporary accommodations address urgent needs, while permanent housing, income support, and integrated support services aim to restore stability. Housing-first approaches prioritize secure housing as a platform for addressing health and social needs. This model has been implemented in Finland and other countries to reduce chronic homelessness.

Terminology note: kodittomien is the Finnish genitive plural used in policy and research to refer to homeless people as a group. Context matters for understanding the size and characteristics of the population, depending on local housing markets and welfare systems.